DIFFERENTIATION BETWEEN 2 POTYVIRUSES IN ALSTROEMERIA

Alstroemeria mosaic virus (AlMV) is one of the viruses known to occur in Alstroemeria spp. Its detection in DAS-ELISA needed improvement. Th e often simultaneous presence of a second potyvirus has been mentioned by various authors. The recently detected virus in Alstroemeria, tent atively named Alstroemeria streak virus [AlSV; Wong, 1992] was multipl ied in indicator plants and had a host range similar to that of AlMV, although the symptoms in these hosts were less severe. Both viruses re acted with antisera prepared in the Netherlands and in Great Britain t o AlMV-isolates purified from infected Alstroemeria plants, and from N icotiana clevelandii, respectively. Where AlSV occurs separately, dist inction from AlMV is possible by its negative reaction with potyvirus group-specific monoclonal antibodies.